Free pdf Ebooks for Children to read during their School Holidays
Free pdf Ebooks for Children to read during their School Holidays
Mary Jones and her Bible
(inspired the founding of the British and Foreign Bible Society)
http://goo.gl/8A2OQA
Thampi’s Heart (English) – A story adapted from Christian Folklore
http://goo.gl/HO71eu
Robert Raikes – Founder of Sunday School
http://goo.gl/FPTGuA
8 March 1835, Freedom for Kerala Slaves. (Munro Island – Travancore)
Slaves
Slavery was a social evil which prevailed all over the world including what is now the state of Kerala in India. According to the 1836 census there were 164,864 slaves in Travancore vis-à-vis a total civilian population of 12,80,668.
Slaves were treated like animals and the cost of one slave was that of an ox, cost of an ox was 5 (big para) measures of Paddy or Rs. 10/- only. Slaves were chained and sold like animals in markets.
Kottayam, Changanasserry, Thirunakkara, Alleppey, Kayamkulam, Kollam, Attingal, Chirayinkizh, Kaniyapuram, Pettah and Kovalam were the notorious slave trade markets of the time. Churches in Cochin were used as godowns for the slaves except for Sundays. Slaves were exported out of the kingdom. There was no one to speak on behalf of these unfortunate people.
With the arrival and the teachings of the CMS (Church Missionary Society) missionaries, people became aware of this social evil. In 1819, Munro Island was given to the missionaries, by the then Travancore Government along with the slaves residing there on the Island. Munro Island is located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala, India.
In 1833, England passed the Slavery Abolition Law. CMS missionaries, Benjamin Bailey and Joseph Peet made a historic declaration on 8th March 1835, giving freedom to the slaves in Munro Island.
The declaration read as follows:
“We the undersigned, acting as trustees of Munro Island, do hereby declare that… who has hitherto been a slave of the soil, is from this time liberated by us and made a free man and that his wife and offspring are wholly and forever free and are regarded by us only as hired servants and that no one has any right to bring them into servitude again. At the same time we declare that we do not consider ourselves as released from any claim which he or his wife or offspring may have upon us according to custom, privilege or law in consequence of their having been slaves.”
8 March 5. Sd/- Benj Bailey Sd/- Josh Peet,
In 1847, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma became the King of Travancore. The same year CMS missionaries submitted a memorandum to the King requesting him to stop the slavery in Travancore. In 1853, by royal declaration slavery was abolished in Travancore forever. In 1864, the Kingdom of Cochin also made a similar declaration abolishing slavery.
March 6, 1475: Italian artist Michelangelo is born
Michelangelo. (Photo from http://www.freyasflorence.com)
March 6, 1475: Italian artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (d.18th Febraury1564) famous for his paintings (the Sistine Chapel), sculpture (“David”), and architecture (the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral), is born in Caprese, commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer.
Michelangelo’s Pieta at St Peter’s Basilica (1498–99)
3 March, 1547: Seventh Session of the Council of Trent
The Council of Trent meeting in Santa Maria Maggiore church, Trento (Trent). (Artist unknown; painted late 17th century.)
At the Seventh Session of the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church defines its theology of the sacraments. Arguing that seven sacraments are necessary for salvation; Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders, and Matrimony; the council rejected the teaching of most Protestants that only two were required: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2 March, 1791: Founder of Methodism, John Wesley dies in London
“John Wesley,” by the English artist George Romney, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Founder of Methodism, John Wesley dies in London. Thanks to his organizational genius, we know exactly how many followers he had when he died: 71,668 British members, 294 preachers, 43,265 American members with 198 preachers and 19 missionaries. Today the Methodists number about 30 million worldwide.
1 March, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China
Hudson Taylor
1 March, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China. Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission in 1865, and popularized the idea that missionaries should live and dress like the people they seek to evangelize.
I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient. ~ Hudson Taylor
Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them. ~ Hudson Taylor
Maramon Convention for Children
Children at the 120th Maramon Convention Pandal. Photo Courtesy: Photo Courtesy http://marthoma.in/maramon-convention
120th Maramon Convention for Kids
A pdf resource sheet for Parents / Sunday School Teachers to explain to their children facts and events chosen from the history of the Maramon Convention.
https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/120th-maramon-convention-for-kids.pdf
March 9 – 18, 1895: The first Maramon Convention
An undated early photo of the Maramon Convention. (www.marthoma.in)
The first Maramon Convention was held from 9th March (Friday) to 18th March (Sunday) in 1895 at the Parapuzha Manalpuram of the River Pamba (the location was situated between the famous Aranmula Temple and the Maramon Church) about one kilometer away from the present venue. It was a ten day event.
The pandal (tent) could accommodate about 7000 people. Mr. David and Mr. Wordsworth, both missionaries from Ceylon (today known as Sri Lanka) were the main speakers of the convention. Mar Thoma Metropolitan Titus I gave the leadership for the convention meetings. Deacon Kakkasseri Varghese of Kunnamkulam (7 July 1867 – 4 June 1897) translated the messages from English to Malayalam for the audiences to understand.
Pages from History: 2nd December, 1842 – Birth of Iype Thoma Kathanar (Kovoor Achen)
Very Rev. Iype Thoma Kathanar
2 December, 1842: Birth of Iype Thoma Kathanar (Kovoor Achen d.27 Jan,1917).
Ipe Thoma Kathanar was one of the prominent priests of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. He bought the Panchayathu Purayidam (present SCS Compound in Tiruvalla, Kerala) for the Church in 1892 for Rs.600. It was he who started the Kettuthengu – practice of dedicating coconut trees from each house for the fund collections for the welfare of the Church.
Read more about his life in our free pdf Ebook: https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/very-rev-iype-thoma-kathanar.pdf
First Sunday of December – Bible Sunday
A Myanmar child holding the Bible.
The First Sunday of December is observed as Bible Society Day. It was the British and Foreign Bible Society, established in London in 1804, that first made a concerted effort of translating, printing and publishing Bibles in different languages.
In India, it’s auxiliaries were formed in Calcutta (1811), Bombay (1812), Madras (1820) and in Kerala (1956). Other auxiliaries were formed later. Even before the formation of the auxiliaries in India, the work of translation of the Bible to Indian languages had been taken up by William Carey and his associates in Calcutta. In obedience to the commandment of the Lord “Go ye unto the uttermost corners of the earth and preach my gospel”, the Bible Society aims at making available, copies of the Bible, New Testaments and portions of the Bible to
1.To Every Person in his/her own language.
2.At a price within his/her reach
3.In a style which is easily understood
It is in pursuance of this objective that it brings out special editions for students,members of the armed forces, in Braille type for the blind, etc. The United Bible Society distributes an average of 32 million full Bibles each year. In addition to that, they distribute enough New Testaments and Scripture portions to potentially reach 5% of the world’s population each year. In 2012 they distributed over 405 million Scripture items.
They also manage a growing social media ministry on Facebook and other social networks. The Digital Bible
Facebook page reaches millions of young adults every year. 71% report it helps them apply the Bible’s teaching to their lives. https://www.facebook.com/UnitedBibleSocieties
